Whiffletree-hook.



J. L. DAVIDSON. ,WHIFFLBTREE HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. 1 906.

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PATENTED JULY 23,1907.

JOHN L. DAVIDSON,

OF BARNET, VERMONT.

WHIFFLETREE-HOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1907.

Application filed May 24:, 1906. Serial No. 318,589.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. DAVIDSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bar-net, in the county of Caledonia and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Whillletree-Hooks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved device for connecting tugs or traces to the end of a whiil'letree, the object being to provide a fastening device which can be readily secured to any of the types of whillletrees in common use, and which is extremely simple and durable in construction.

The invention also contemplates a device which can be readily operated with gloves upon the hands, and l which will, therefore, be especially desirable in cold weather.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one end of a Whiflietree provided with the improved trace holder, the trace being shown by dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same, parts being broken away; and, Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line of Fig. 3.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The numeral fl. designates a whiflle tree which is similar to those in common use, the end thereof being tapered and adapted to pass through the eye formed in the trace 2. The keeper for preventing the trace from slipping over the end of the whiffletree is in the nature of a vertically disposed hook member 3 which fits over one of the edges of the trace and is connected to the whiiiletree by means of a spring arm 4 extending longitudinally along the same.

In the preferred construction, the hook 3 and spring arm i are both formed from a single piece of spring wire, one end thereof being hooked, while the opposite end is bent back upon itself to form the eye 5 through which the screw or other fastening member 6 is passed by means of which the spring arm is held in position. There the whifiletree is formed of wood, it will under most circumstances be found desirable to place a washer 7 under the eye 5. In order to hold the keeper in normal position with the arm f extending longitudinally along the whifiletree and the end of the hook member bearing against the upper side of the same, a transversely disposed piece of wire 8 is secured to the whifile tree, the said wire being preferably spaced from the whifl'letree, except at the ends and the central portion thereof, the latter being depressed or bent inwardly to form the notch 9, while the former are bent inwardly and embedded in the wood of the whiifle tree. When the keeper is in normal position, the spring arm 4 is adapted to engage with the notch 9, and it will be observed that the portions of the wire 8 on opposite sides of the notch 9 are inclined downwardly and form guideways to raise the spring arm so that it can enter the notch when the keeper is swung around upon the pivot member 6.

In the operation of the device, the keeper is swung around at an angle to the whiffletree and the trace 2 placed in position upon the latter. One edge of the trace is then slipped under the hook member 3 and the keeper turned back into normal position so that the spring arm 4 engages with the notch 9. In this position, it will be readily apparent that the trace is securely held against slipping either inwardly or outwardly upon the whi'l'iletree.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a whillletree, a keeper pivotally connected to the whiltletree and comprising a spring arm having a hook member at one end thereof, the said hook member being adapted to engage with a trace to hold it in position upon the whilile tree, and a transversely disposed member having its ends secured to the whitlietree and formed at an intermediate point with a notch, the portions of the transverse member upon opposite sides of the notch being inclined outwardly, the said notch being adapted to engage with the before mentioned spring arm to hold the keeper in normal position, while the inclined portions of the transverse member form guideways for leading the spring arm into the notch.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a whiiiletree, a keeper comprising a spring arm having an eye formed at one end thereof and a hook member at the opposite end thereof, the said hook member being adapted to engage with a trace to hold the same in position upon the vhillle tree, a pivot member passing through the eye and securing the keeper to the \vhiiiletree, and a transversely disposed member having the ends thereof embedded in the whillletree, while an intermediate portion is depressed to form a notch which is adapted to engage with the before mentioned spring arm to hold the keeper in normal position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

.TOHN L. DAVIDSON. [L.S.]

Witnesses .Toi-IN S. T. WALLACE, PLYNA Dousn. 

